Welcome to the delicious world of Thai cuisine

Thai cuisine is known for its bold flavors, aromatic herbs, and spicy dishes. Some of the most popular Thai dishes include tom yum (a spicy soup with shrimp or chicken), green curry (a spicy curry made with coconut milk and green chilies), and pad Thai (a stir-fried noodle dish with shrimp, tofu, and peanuts). However, there is much more to Thai cuisine than those widely popular culinary highlights. This website is about the more mundane Thai staples which I came across while living in rural areas of Thailand.

Thai dishes, drinks, sweets and other culinary treats that I recommend you to try when visiting Thailand.

Snacks & Deserts

In addition to many savory dishes, Thailand is also known for the wide variety of sweet desserts. The following are my favourite ones:

• Khao Lam (Sticky Rice in Bamboo Tubes)
  Sweet sticky, coconut-flavoured rice, either white or red, steamed in bamboo tubes.
• Kluay Tod  (Thai Fried Bananas)
  Ripe bananas dipped in flour, then deep-fried and served as sweet and crunchy street snacks all around Thailand.
• Pa Tong Go (Thai-Style Chinese Doughnut)
  Crispy and soft, deep-fried X-shaped Thai doughnuts.

Breakfast Dishes

These are my favorite, locally popular dishes that are commonly enjoyed as Thai breakfast.

• Khao Mun Gai (Thai Chicken with Oily Rice)
  Boiled chicken served over oily rice, flavored with a ginger and garlic sauce.
• Pa Tong Go (Thai-Style Chinese Doughnut)
  A perfect morning in Thailand involves a cup of coffee and a plate of these crispy, airy Thai doughnuts.
• Thai Roti Bread
  Crispy flatbread that is often served with a variety of toppings, such as sugar, condensed milk, and bananas.
• Khai Jiao (Thai-style Omelette)
  Savory omelette that is sometime made with shredded pork, onions, and herbs, and served with rice.
• Khao Tom (Rice Porridge-Soup)
  Thick rice soup that is often made with chicken or pork, and flavored with spices and herbs.

Lunch Meals

Many delicious Thai dishes are commonly served for lunch in Thailand. It is hard to pick only a few of them. These are my favourite lunch dishes I eat regularly while staying in Thailand:

• Khao Mun Gai Tod (Fried Chicken with Oily Rice)
  Deep-fried chicken served over oily rice, flavored with a ginger and garlic sauce.
• Khao Soi (Coconut Curry Noodle Soup)
  Crispy egg noodles in a thick, rich coconut broth with slices of chicken or beef.

Dinner Meals

Dinners in Thailand are often social meals that involve sharing a variety of dishes among a group of people. Below are some examples of what would be considered a traditional Thai social dinner:

• Moo Krata ( Thai-Style Korean BBQ)
  A buffet-style experience with a variety of meat (usually pork) to grill and share with friends.
• Eating Som Tum (Eating "Papaya Salad" Together)
  An invitation to join someone for Som Tam in Thailand is much more than an offer to satiate your hunger together. It's a social event, with many dishes to share and topics to discuss.
• Gai Pad Med Ma Muang (Stir Fry Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
  A popular Thai dish, usually served over rice, made by stir-frying chicken with cashew nuts, vegetables and a flavorful sauce.

Popular Thai Drinks

Thai drinks are known for their unique flavours and ingredients. Following are my favourite thirst quenchers in Thailand:

• Cha Yen (Thai Iced Tea)
  A sweet and creamy drink made with strongly brewed black tea, milk, and sugar.
• Nam Manglak (Thai Coconut Juice)
  A refreshing drink made from young coconut water mixed with coconut cream and sugar.
• Oliang (Traditional Thai Iced Coffee)
  Iced coffee prepared from a mixture of Robusta coffee grounds, brown sugar, and various grains and seeds like cardamom, corn or soybeans.

Thai Fruits & Vegetables

Some of the most delicious and the most popular fruits in Thailand are; papaya, durian, mangoes, rambutan and bananas.

As far as vegetables are concerned there are many popular options used in a variety of dishes. Some of the most popular ones include Thai eggplant, bamboo shoots, Chinese kale and shallots.

Thai Herbs & Spices

In addition to fruits and vegetables, there are many herbs and spices commonly used in Thai cuisine to add flavour and aroma to dishes. The most common ones include Thai basil, cilantro, lemongrass, mint, Thai chilli peppers and ginger. To learn more about Thai herbs and spices click here.